Downsizing Was a Mistake? Why I’m Riding Big Slalom Boards Again!

[@LOsurfVE]

Tabou Rocket+ 133 LTD 2023 here, and man i love this board! Even at 30+ knots. Went foiling over and over again and instantly missed the fin. Nice to see others are feeling the same.

[@weed.smoking.turtle]

Same feeling here

[@Omobilo]

whats the min sail size you used on the 133 LTD for fin sailing?

[@LOsurfVE]

​@@Omobilo 5.8 is the absolut min sail size for 30+ knots i use. For me the 7.7 is the sweetspot sail size for 20-25 knots. And 6.6 for 25-30 knots. ☺

[@bjekjr114]

I totally agree, I you and Andrea know my point. We need a 9.4 free race sail again in the range, and with 100% focus on early planning before top speed.

[@hans-joachimquilling7748]

Totally agree - i have a Point7 2 cam in 9,4 qm in combination with a JP super lightwind and I have more as doubled my time on water this year with gliding 👌

[@bjekjr114]

@hans-joachimquilling7748 Great to her, since most brands stop producing >9 m2 sails, we need to give it a voice😀🤙. Me and my friend also both have JP Super light wind, and even use it with 2017 Formula sails from 10,5 to 12,5. And then we use the 9,X on the 85 race/freerace board. Then we are planning with fin most light wind days🤙

[@KoenBEL-2]

I always loved the formula boards , they were the ultimate in fin feeling and range . To some extend you get the same with the big slalom boards but less angel up and down and a little bit more accessible . Nice video and valid points .

[@streetsailor]

YES. Keep going, bring formula back! That's my situation in light-wind San Diego and I want to fin.

[@pierrotrapido]

Very good points there. Since foiling, we realize that we prefer to sacrifice 1 knots of top speed for 30% planning more and easier planning jibes. :-)

[@fabianmagnee9115]

Thanks Nils. Here we can find another great subjet of discussion in our passion.I mainly sail on a lake and the conditions are always changing. I really agree with your position and adopt it. Now I do a lot of raceboarding too. It's even more versatile! Have fun in any discipline!

[@marekpatzelt8790]

As a beginner it sounds quite funny to me, that 132l is big board, when I feel like 160l is already a smaller board 🥲😂

[@babissakandaris7976]

Well said ! The feeling of the fin is contact with the sea ! The contact with foil is only after the catapult 😂! 80-85 boards was and will stay for ever in the quiver of every serious sailor ! PWA is a different story companies push guys or new toys ! And as you see only 5-6 pro riders have good gear in foil ! Mortefon had to change all gear in order to be top again .If you like to go fast on big gear try 80 board with 7.8 and 43 fin ! All best

[@lars_nor171]

Totally agree. The 85 with the 8.6 gets me going in light wind.

[@rcggijzen]

Let's all welcome back Nils in the community of Followers of the Planing Board. The only true wind-watersports-religion worshipping the Lord of Fin. I think most flat-water based windsurfers that tried foiling a bit when it became popular, realized it did not quite give the same buzz as skimming across the surface, and therefore stuck to their traditional big windsurf kit. Makes total sense that you see that now as well. Personally, I never invested in foiling kit for exactly the 2 reasons you mention: 1) Foiling doesn't give you the same kick as a planing board and 2) Foiling in light winds means you are not practicing windsurf-skills you need for the days the wind kicks in.

[@welleueberwelle934]

Fin 4eva its just harmony in sheer madness, nothin compares to this feelin🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤

[@mjdejong]

the 132 DarkHorse and 85cm JP Slaloms have been my most used board for the last 3 years. Those boards have gotten at least 90% of my time on the water. I will always have at least two 85cm boards in my collection

[@Gusflyingfishking]

Fin is king

[@schobihh2703]

Thanks for the video. You are absolutely right. Windsurfing is special and just adranaline. But 85 is to big. I am 95kg have a 77 and it is not really worse in planning than the 85 but so much more fun.

[@sandervang1208]

Hi Nils. This is exactly the reason I won't go foiling. Besides the crashes etc. When the wind is to soft for windsurfing I'll grab my MTB and have fun with that.

[@hanslaught2351]

This is why I'm keeping around my big board that does both fin and foil. I get the maximum amount of planing (if I choose fin) or foiling while I tend to see others waiting for gusts on my lakes. I used to not mind the sitting around waiting for gusts but now I'm too impatient. Small/medium boards are only for 20+ kt winds consistently, where I know 90% of the time I'll be getting going fast ;) The difference is I have freeride equipment mostly so the speeds of slalom gear are definitely calling me. Don't get trapped by the notion that "good windsurfers" shouldn't have a big board. That only applies if you're racing or have excellent, predictable wind conditions.

[@mbyrnes3346]

Yes, for me it is 0-6knots flatwater/dock start, 6knots-10knots wing, 10-20knots formula WS, 20-30knots wave/freestyle WS, +30knots downwind SUP. The large Slalom/formula boards are magical and give the best balance of connection and floating.

[@davethewave9380]

I agree 💯%! I like foiling but I love fin! Would just like to add that the width of the personal big board and big sail really depends on body weight. I (~85kg) can start planing in light wind with an 82 wide slalom board and 7.8/42 fin due to the better ratio as quickly as with a 85 wide one and 8.3/44 fin, but I'm significantly faster✌️

[@samuelcaillault294]

On point not mention is the spot where we ride and the fact those big slalom board are good to foil to. I got a falcon 148l from 2011 that brillant light wind board in fin and also a really nice foil board and that perfect as my main spot at low tide don’t allow an easy ride with 95cm mast and I will fin ride instead just switching from foil to fin and rigging a bigger sails. Don’t need to carry 2 big 85cm board in the care less cost effective. I am not a competitors and the extra length make it more confortable in light wind. After for more wind I have small dedicated foil board and at that moment it is easier to plan another ring and board if fin is necessary.

[@markjagger6777]

I’ve got plenty of other sports to keep me happy when the wind is low :)

[@nickfountain8482]

Perhaps it's also considering a medium free race, particularly if you don't want to carry very big sails. I get the impression that very wide flat boards are a bit sticky to release and require a bigger sail.The biggest short board I have is a jp supersport 109 , 65 wide which will carry about 7.8 which is as big as I want to go . I nearly bought a firestorm 123 this winter ,but thought better of it.I used to have 10m sails but would struggle to uphaul one now. I do still have a 90s 380 raceboard though which is great in the summer and I do use an old 9.0 on that.

[@steven_windsurf_nl]

Flat water big gear cruising is the best. I have trouble committing as much time on the foil, it is harder and scarier and as soon as it is enough for big berta, i rather take her out instead. Progress is therefore a bit slow on the foil. It is ok. 😊

[@q2w8i9o]

I have big sail 8.8 + 140l slalom board for summer and fall when is very weedy. Use foiling only in spring time.

[@urmastiirik]

I was riding in Torbole (Lake Garda) this year with my 80cm slalom board and the chop from the light south wind (I was on 8,3m2 sail) was so sharp that I did not enjoy riding the big board at all. The carbon slalom board is just so stiff. However at my homespots I have had massive fun with the big board so I guess it depends also on the location you are using it.

[@vardenispavardenis2318]

Same for me i started to train foiling but i not so like foil . and in september i get patrik slalom board 140 liter 85 cm wide. and i waiting write wind to windsurf with this board

[@robinrydning1307]

Is it much diffrence to sail a big slalomboard compare to a Formula? Jib, speed etc? I have been using a old Formula when light wind and drop to 85-120 ltr boards when its more wind.

[@bigsean99]

35kn on the big kit is nuts :o

[@Theo-i5r6z]

I completely agree have used jp slalom 85 with 9.5 aero for 2 years now fenomenal speeds on the lake. One question I feel maybe there is not a lot of difference between planing power between 9,5 and 8.5 slalom sails currently, what do you think? What fo you use on the big future fly?

[@firstnamelastname2669]

For an interesting alternative view see Wojtek 'Secrets of light wind slalom'. Even though I've enjoyed formula I think at 75kg I wouldn't go over. 80cm.

[@captainashcam]

A 130 litre board seems enormous to me, I guess your sails are much bigger though too. Congrats on becoming a distributor, best of luck.

[@jfdube6669]

Nils what size fin and sail were you using?

[@reneruijgrok8066]

Same question here, if the board is used from 18 to 25 knots which fin range is to be used. Go for one fin or maybe three? Thanks .

[@Team33Team33]

Takes a long time for people to realise that smaller shorter may look cool BUT they aren't what they need !

[@sharewavestv]

Does size really matters?

[@Omobilo]

@Nils on the Dark Horse 2025 132L - what would be the min sail size you could use on it you think? I'm 91kg

[@WindsurfingNils]

7.8-9.4 works perfect, 7.0 works okay but is better on a medium board

[@marcofranchi2079]

per slalom grande solo 8.6 o 9.4 il mio peso 95kg vmax sul mare 31 knoz con 8.6 e patrik 140

[@horsemadf1]

How much do you weigh? How many litres over your weight is the big board? I weigh 66kgs so obviously a 'big' board for me is much smaller.

[@nicobm115]

You will be back on the Formula board in a few days 😆

[@WindsurfingNils]

probably 😅

[@wilcootte7408]

Yesss, great info! I am also thinking about getting a 139 liter for less wind

[@hansmeiser4869]

Ok but you have to be able to ride a 7.x sail in 30kn to use 135l board then. Not possible for lighter guys, I think. But the topic is interesting, thanks for that.😊

[@ordinaryswedishwindsurfer]

slowly everyone starts to understand that fin and foil is two different sports . the only thing they have in common is they use for an untrained eye sail and board, it has different feeling. different boards, sails etc. the indistry made the sport to two smaller sports than one small sport. if you like both its expensive like hell. and if you don't like foil you get shit from everyone else. the only thing thats true is big stuff get you much more time on the water, yeah you can foil with small sail and 1900wing but how fun is it going around in 12knots...

[@anitakriebel6397]

And even with the big fin you got this fast! How is that possible? ("If you want to go fast, use the small gear: small sail, small board, small fin!" ... But I see that's not true.)

[@weed.smoking.turtle]

Stronger winds more chop on normal lakes. With a big board and sail normally the wind is lighter and the water is more flat so better for blasting

[@christianwehr3923]

I'm also really curious about how you get so fast on those big board and fin, please give an answer, Nils

[@markjagger6777]

Foiling: just not for me. I’m a pop and hop type rider and foiling simply doesn’t cut it. It’s simply nowhere near as fun. Particularly when on the kite in waves

[@zacharysprunt3398]

Give it a good go. Now I’m out in any conditions, all the time

[@pavelburyan9701]

You are talking only about big slalom boards. I understand that, from your perspective it makes sense. But please don't forget amateur windsurfers.